Zambezi River Basin

Urbanization

Zambezi River Basin countries share similar settlement patterns characterized by both low and high densities. While the basin is largely rural, urbanization rates are high. In Botswana and Angola, urban population constitute more than 60 per cent (SADC and SARDC 2008), and is projected to exceed 80 per cent by 2050 (UN- HABITAT 2010). At just more than 25 per cent (UN-HABITAT 2010), Malawi is the least urbanized country in the basin, and yet the most densely populated. The majority of Malawi’s urban residents live in the major towns of Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Zomba (Chenje 2000). Mining is the key driver of Zambia’s urbanization. As a result, 85 per cent of the country’s urban residents are concentrated

Located on the Zambezi River, Tete is the provincial capital of Mozambique’s Tete Province. A prominent feature of the city is the one-kilometre suspension bridge

Lilongwe is the capital city of Malawi. The city started as a small village along Lilongwe River. In 1977 the city’s population was estimated at about 99 000, and this grew to 781 500 in 2012. Expansion of the city has resulted in the deforestation of large surrounding areas due to the

36